by media | Mar 7, 2019 | Media Releases
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Pharr met for a regular meeting on Monday, March 4, 2019, and Monday, February 18, 2019, and considered an agenda that included the following highlights:
Highlights from the Commission’s Meeting on March 4, 2019
Pharr Approves Proclamation Recognizing March 12 as IHOP’s Free Pancake Day and Shriners Hospitals for Children Day
The Pharr City Commission approved a proclamation proclaiming March 12, 2019, as “IHOP’s Free Pancake Day and Shriner’s Hospital for Children Day” in Pharr. On March 12, 2019, Shriners Hospitals for Children and IHOP, will join together to encourage people to donate to Shriners Hospitals for Children activities in our Pharr. Gilbert Medina from Shriners of South Texas was present to accept the proclamation. “I want to thank you Mayor and City Commissioners for the proclamation and invite all of you to enjoy pancakes on March 12 at IHOP to help support the Shriners,” he announced while accepting the proclamation. Shriners Hospitals for Children gives children the opportunity to receive treatment for orthopedic problems, severe burns, and spinal cord injuries and provides them with a head start in developing a normal life, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay, that is essential to becoming successful and contributing adults.
Isabel Ozuna Recognized as Recipient of the Texas NENA “Silent Hero Award”
Isabel Ozuna, a Telecommunicator with the Pharr Fire Department Communications Office (FireComm), has been selected as a recipient of the 2019 “Silent Hero Award” and will be presented with the prestigious award in April during theTexas National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Conference. According to the nominating committee, the Silent Hero Award is presented each year to an individual for exceptional professionalism in the field of emergency communications. This award is given to an individual who goes “above and beyond the call of duty.” It is given to a telecommunicator who is recognized as dedicated to emergency communications each and every day. “We are extremely proud to have Ms. Ozuna recognized at the state level for the outstanding work she is doing,” stated Kennith Ennis, Pharr Communications Supervisor. Congratulations to Ms. Ozuna for being selected for this award! This is the second year in a row that a member of the Pharr Communications Office wins the award.
Highlights from the Commission’s Meeting on February 18, 2019
City Announces December Sales Tax Report
City Manager Alex Meade announced that the sales tax activity for the city of Pharr as of the month of February 2019 continues to show a positive upward trend, demonstrating a steady increase in sales activity. The report is the first month of the City’s fiscal year and represents sales activity for the month of December 2018. The sales tax allocation report for February 2019 showed that Pharr received $2.46 million for the month of December 2018. This amount reflects a substantial increase – 43.68% – from the same reporting period in December 2017. This sales tax growth was one of the largest in Hidalgo County for this reporting period. The sales tax growth report showed an overall positive trend in the amount of $1,482,507, an increase of 19.79% for this time period. This is the 3rd month of actual sales for the fiscal year 2018-2019. To date, the City of Pharr sales tax activity is up 23.10%, which equates to $528,787 from this point of the fiscal year compared to last year.
Pharr Approves Resolution creating a Census 2020 Complete Count Committee
Mayor Ambrosio Hernadez, M.D. and the Pharr Cty Commission approved a resolution creating a 2020 Census Committee. The purpose of the Complete Count Committee is to plan and conduct local educational initiatives, publicity, and promotional activities to increase community awareness and participation in Census 2020. Accurate census information is critical to planning for future growth, development, and the social needs of the City of Pharr through the disbursement of federal dollars, which are distributed based on population. Additionally, data collected by the census determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and in the state legislature. Pharr has experienced phenomenal growth over the last ten years and encourages all citizens to fully participate in the 2020 Census. The Complete Count Committee is comprised of city staff, local businesses, faith-based organizations, and community organizations.
Featured Event: St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk – Saturday, March 16, 2019, beginning at 8 am
Join us for the annual city of Pharr St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 16th, beginning at 8:00 AM at the PSJA Stadium (703 E. Sam Houston St. Pharr, Texas).
To register visit endurancesplits.webconnex.com/13thannualst.patricksday5K or visit our Parks & Recreation office at 413 E. Clark Ave. Pharr, Texas
Prices:
Children: $5
Adults: $15
For more information call 956-402-4550.
by media | Feb 21, 2019 | Media Releases
THOUSANDS OF TEXANS JOIN THE 2019 IT’S TIME TEXAS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Registration is open now for the statewide competition designed to encourage individual Texans to step up to the challenge of living a healthier life and to provide a platform for friendly competition among communities to see who can be the healthiest.
WHAT:
The IT’S TIME TEXAS Community Challenge presented by H-E-B, is hosted by the nonprofit IT’S TIME TEXAS working tomake healthier lifestyles accessible to all Texans. The annual statewide healthy competition encourages individuals to eat healthier, exercise more, reduce stress, and take steps towards improving the health of Texans.
Individuals, mayors, schools and school districts, employers, and businesses can earn points on behalf of their communities for making healthy choices, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or doing a group workout.
Participation in the IT’S TIME TEXAS Community Challenge is free and open to everyone.
The competition is tracked and measured via #healthyselfies and submissions to the Community Challenge website.
The website’s leader board will be regularly updated with new submissions and points earned, firing up a competitivespiritin communities across Texas. At the end of the eight weeks, the winning community and winning district in each size category will receive funds to put towards future health related projects. Individuals will also be eligible for prize giveaways through- out the Challenge.
WHEN:
Community Challenge Dates: January 7 -March 3, 2019 Registration is now open at www.ittcommunitychallenge.com.
WHY:
Unhealthy has become the new normal in Texas and the country. Preventable chronic diseases have become epidemics, threatening to bankrupt our state and erode our quality of life in Texas. The declining health of Texans is the result of a highlycomplex, wide-sweeping societal crisis that requires urgent, bold, and innovative action. The nonprofit IT’S TIME TEXASexists to bring about a culture of health in Texas by making health and wellness a way of life in Texas and the Community Challenge will do just that.
By working together at the individual and community levels, we aim to mobilize people to make significant changes at all levels of our society to influence the extent to which people have access to and opportunities to live healthier lives.
Together, we are working to reduce obesity rates and related chronic disease for all Texans and your involvement in the Community Challenge will make this possible in communities across the state.
» 9,350,975 is the projected number of Texans with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity related cancer in the year 2030. That’s a million more than the population of New York City.
» Texas has the 14th highest adult obesity rate in the nation, with a 33% adult obesity rate in Texas.
» Texas has the seventh highest obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17.
» Children born in the U.S. in or after the year 2020 are projected to live shorter lives than their parents! » $32.5 billion is the projected cost of obesity to Texas employers in the year 2030.
» 25.2% of Texan adults reported doing no physical activity or exercise in the past 30 days.
by media | Feb 20, 2019 | Media Releases
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Pharr met for a special meeting on Monday, February 18, 2019, and considered an agenda that included the following highlights:
City Announces December Sales Tax Report
City Manager Alex Meade announced that the sales tax activity for the city of Pharr as of the month of February 2019 continues to show a positive upward trend, demonstrating a steady increase in sales activity. The report is the first month of the City’s fiscal year and represents sales activity for the month of December 2018. The sales tax allocation report for February 2019 showed that Pharr received $2.46 million for the month of December 2018. This amount reflects a substantial increase – 43.68% – from the same reporting period in December 2017. This sales tax growth was one of the largest in Hidalgo County for this reporting period. The sales tax growth report showed an overall positive trend in the amount of $1,482,507, an increase of 19.79% for this time period. This is the 3rd month of actual sales for the fiscal year 2018-2019. To date, the City of Pharr sales tax activity is up 23.10%, which equates to $528,787 from this point of the fiscal year compared to last year.
Pharr Approves Resolution creating a Census 2020 Complete Count Committee
Mayor Ambrosio Hernadez, M.D. and the Pharr Cty Commission approved a resolution creating a 2020 Census Committee. The purpose of the Complete Count Committee is to plan and conduct local educational initiatives, publicity, and promotional activities to increase community awareness and participation in Census 2020. Accurate census information is critical to planning for future growth, development, and the social needs of the City of Pharr through the disbursement of federal dollars, which are distributed based on population. Additionally, data collected by the census determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and in the state legislature. Pharr has experienced phenomenal growth over the last ten years and encourages all citizens to fully participate in the 2020 Census. The Complete Count Committee is comprised of city staff, local businesses, faith-based organizations, and community organizations.
Events of Interest:
You could not, would not want to miss a birthday party as fun as this!
Join us in celebrating Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Celebration! February 28, 2019 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. There will be games, raffles, prizes, snacks and story time! This event will be held at the Pharr Development and Research Center located on 850 W. Dicker Rd.
For more information, call the Children’s Department at 956-402-4650
The City of Pharr presents another family-friendly event for you, the St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk!
Join us Saturday, March 16th, beginning at 8:00 AM at the PSJA Stadium (703 E. Sam Houston St. Pharr, Texas).
To register, visit endurancesplits.webconnex.com/13thannualst.patricksday5Kor visit our Parks & Recreation office at 413 E. Clark Ave. Pharr, Texas
by media | Feb 19, 2019 | Media Releases
Pharr International Bridge to Host FREE BridgeConnect Trade Session on Level I and Hazmat Inspection on 2/28
Pharr, Texas – The Pharr International Bridge will host a FREE BridgeConnect Trade Session on Level I and Hazmat Inspection, including training on how to discover unsafe conditions before they cause accidents or crashes. The first BridgeConnect Trade Session will be held at 8:30 am on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at VAL Trasport (701 Bona Terra Dr.) in Pharr and a second session will take place at 10:30 am at the Pharr Development and Research Center (850 W. Dicker Road) in Pharr.
At this BridgeConnect Trade Session, attendees will get an overview of inspection procedures for North American standard cargo tank and other bulk packing, learn how to identify mechanical problems before they lead to costly breakdowns, gain insight knowledge on how to avoid being placed out of service during a roadside DOT inspection or being subject to infractions and fines, and receive an update about the overweight/oversized permit system. Presentations will be conducted by Sgt. Orlando Barrera from the Texas Department of Public Safety Division of Commercial Motor Vehicles and Pilar Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority.
The Bridge will have stream the sessions live online at www.pharrbridge.com for those who are unable to attend.
All media and the public are invited to attend. For more information or to RSVP, please email [email protected] or [email protected].
DETAILS
Who: Pharr International Bridge
What: FREE BridgeConnect Trade Session on NAFTA
When: Thursday, February 28, 2019
Where: Session 1: VAL Transport at 8:30 am
701 Bona Terra Dr., Pharr, TX 78577
Session 2: Pharr Development and Research Center at 10:30 am
850 W. Dicker Rd., Pharr, TX 78577
by media | Feb 14, 2019 | Media Releases
The City of Pharr presents another family-friendly event for you, the St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk????????!
We encourage you to join us and take part in making our Pharr a healthier community!
Join us Saturday, March 16th, beginning at 8AM at the PSJA Stadium (703 E. Sam Houston St. Pharr, Texas).
To register, visit endurancesplits.webconnex.com/13thannualst.patricksday5K or visit our Parks & Rec office at 413 E. Clark Ave. Pharr, Texas. Please register before the event, there will be no registration the day of. For more information on this event and how to register, contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 956-402-4550.
Time:
1-mile run: 8AM
5K Run/Walk: 9AM
by media | Feb 14, 2019 | Information, Media Releases
Pharr and PSJA ISD Host 2019 Lunar New Year Festival
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr, the Pharr Economic Development Corporation, the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD), and the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) held a joint celebration for the 2019 Lunar New Year Festival, celebrating the Year of the Hog. Considered the most important holiday in China, the Chinese New Year is celebrated throughout the country with festivals, special traditions, and food. The festival, which was held at PSJA Southwest Early College High School attracted students from throughout the district and community, helping to provide an understanding and knowledge of the Chinese culture.
“Events like these are crucial to expanding our student’s worldview and broadening their understanding of other languages, cultures, and traditions,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “The City of Pharr is proud to participate and support this culturally-immersive event which helps students further understand the Chinese culture,” he continued. “Additionally, this type of cultural immersion prepares our students to be globally competitive in an internationally driven workforce,” he added.
PSJA ISD has a renowned Dual Language Enrichment Program, which has become a model for local, state, and national educators. As such, they are one of the only, if not the only, district in the Rio Grande Valley to offer a Mandarin Chinese Program. A program such as this one exposes students to cultural events, foods, traditions, and many other aspects of the culture, adding a more in-depth understanding of a culture than just language acquisition.
“As a globally competitive economy, it is crucial that we work with our students and educators to develop the skills, knowledge, and languages that will benefit economic development for future generations,” said Victor Perez, Pharr EDC Executive Director and PSJA ISD School Board Member. “We are thankful to the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) your continuous support,” he added.
The festival was attended by hundreds of local community members, students, and officials. A vibrant celebration including traditional Chinese customs such as food, music, calligraphy, martial arts, songs, clothing, and a dragon dance was showcased throughout the evening of festivities.
